How early should you leave Hawkhurst for Gatwick Airport?

One of the most common questions we get asked before a Gatwick booking: "What time should I be picked up?" It sounds simple. It isn't — and getting it wrong in either direction either has you rushed through security or sitting at the gate for three hours.

This guide gives you our honest, driver-tested answer based on years of Hawkhurst to Gatwick runs.

The journey itself: what to expect

From Hawkhurst village centre, the drive to Gatwick Airport takes between 55 and 75 minutes depending on traffic. The route runs via the A229 through Maidstone or across to the A21, then picks up the M23 north to the airport. In normal conditions it's closer to 55–60 minutes. In peak morning traffic or roadworks, 70–75 is more realistic.

We always build a buffer into your pickup time. We'd rather you spend 20 minutes relaxed in the terminal than arrive with your heart racing.

How early before your flight should you arrive at Gatwick?

Gatwick's own published guidance is 2 hours before departure for short-haul and 3 hours for long-haul. In practice, during peak periods (school holidays, bank holidays, summer) the South Terminal in particular can have long security queues — add 30 minutes to those figures if you're travelling in July or August.

Working out your pickup time

Here's a simple way to calculate it:

1. Take your flight departure time
2. Subtract the recommended check-in time (2hr short-haul, 3hr long-haul)
3. Subtract the journey time (allow 75 minutes from Hawkhurst)
4. Subtract 15 minutes for a comfortable departure from home

Example: 07:00 departure ? arrive airport by 05:00 ? leave Hawkhurst by 03:45. We'd suggest a 03:30 pickup to be safe.

North or South Terminal — does it matter for timing?

Yes. The two terminals are separate buildings connected by a free shuttle train that adds 10–15 minutes if you accidentally go to the wrong one. Always check your boarding pass or booking confirmation before your driver sets off — and tell us your terminal when you book so we drop you at exactly the right place.

Our advice for very early departures (before 06:00)

For anything departing before 06:00, we almost always recommend treating the journey as if it's the night before — get everything ready, set multiple alarms, and book your pickup 90 minutes before the airport's recommended arrival time rather than the standard 75. At 4am the roads are clear, but you don't want to test it.

We do more pre-dawn pickups than any other time slot. Your driver will confirm the night before and be at your door on time.

What if there are roadworks or traffic alerts?

We monitor the route before every journey. If there's a significant issue on the M23 or A21, we'll plan an alternative route and adjust your pickup time accordingly — and we'll let you know. You don't need to track traffic yourself.